August 2009 Volume 93 Issue 8

President’s Message

Community News

New Members

Business Briefs

Chamber & County Events

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Allstate Insurance Arnold & Smith Insurance Agency, Inc. Cameo Boutique Cushman Boats Dirt Cheap Cycle Extreme Auto Body Gardner Accounting Gateway Property Management Green Diamond Resource Company Heritage Bank HQ Electronics Hood Canal Business Association Hoss & Wilson-Hoss, LLP Joe L. Snyder, Attorney KMAS Radio 1030AM Mariano's Fine Jewelry & Design Pier 101 Gift Shop & Women's Boutique Port of Shelton Prudential Northwest Real Estate Richard C. Downing DDS Sage Book Store Smoking Mo's Kitchen S. O. C. K. Squaxin Island Tribe Tourism Department The Strip Steak House Tupper's Floorcoverings & Interiors, Inc. Walter Dacon Wines West Coast Bank Windermere Vince Himlie & Jill Himlie Wittenberg, CPA, PS

Black Star The Creative Office EI. Kristyn & Son Construction, Inc, McCarty & Associates “A Marketing Firm” Mason County Association of Realtors Olympic Bakery & Deli Olympic Mountain Millwork

To join President’s Circle, call today 360.426.2021

Or Current Resident

The Mason County Association of Realtors recently hosted local elected officials and staff at its 4th annual Housing Issues Briefing. Association leaders reported on current housing market conditions, public policy issues affecting the industry and the Association’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the industry and its clients. The keynote presentation by John Caulfield, City Man-ager of Mountlake Terrace walked the group through the city’s four year effort to revitalize their downtown core.

President Margie Heath said recent market phenomena works to pit bank-owned properties and “short-sales “ aimed at preventing imminent foreclosure against “regular” sellers, creating two distinct market segments. Kristy Buck, member of the Association Board and state Legis-lative Committee, reported Mason County is still in a buyer’s market, and prices are continuing downward, although at a slowing pace. The number of closed sales through June is off by nine percent from last year, and the median price has decreased by 24 percent between 2008 and 2009. Our affordability index has gone up with lowering prices, making more homes afford-able to first-time homebuyers. Proving housing markets are very local, the audience saw tables showing price change difference by geographical areas of the County – some rising, while most others have gone down.

Special guest speaker Caulfield, summarized Mountlake Terrace’s initiative to revise it’s devel-opment regulations and supporting infrastructure to implement the citizen’s vision for the city’s future. Caulfield explained how development code revisions were designed to encourage a vibrant downtown area built in unison with their vision.

Heath reported on the recent Realtor Statewide Open House June 27 and 28 with over 5,000 simultaneous open houses statewide and the local buzz created by more than 150 public open houses held that weekend in Mason County.

Realtors Report Market Status to Local Officials

How Green is Green Diamond?

Here in Mason County, folks are still getting used to the name Green Diamond Resource Company. Even employees of the com-

pany slip and call it “Simpson” every once in awhile.

Though the name is new, the company’s roots date back to 1890, when Sol Simpson founded Simpson Logging Company here in Mason County. Five generations later, both Simpson and Green Diamond are still privately held. Green Diamond owns and manages timberland in Washington, Oregon and California as well as manufacturing facilities in California. Here in Washington, Green Diamond directly employs about 95 people in roles from logging to refor-estation, environmental monitoring to accounting, harvest planning to marketing, road build-ing to information services.

Many believe that Washington State has the toughest forest practices regulations in the world. The majority of Green Diamond’s lands here in Washington are managed under a Habitat Con-servation Plan, an element of the federal Endangered Species Act that allows for active land management in exchange for provisions which protect threatened and endangered species. Green Diamond’s Habitat Conservation Plan protects 52 aquatic and terrestrial species, most of which are not listed as threatened or endangered, but which are indicators of watershed health as the basis for coverage under the federal Clean Water Act, the first-ever such protec-tion.

Outside of the Habitat Conservation Plan area, Washington’s Forests & Fish rules apply. This too is a complex set of rules to protect habitat for fish and wildlife and to maintain Continued pg 4

Business Spotlight

PRESIDENT: ●Jerry Eckenrode

KMAS Radio AM 1030

VICE PRESIDENT of Membership: ●Angela Hickson

Steven’s Fine Dining

VICE PRESIDENT of Marketing: ●Leslie Johnson

Squaxin Island Tribe Island Enterprise

PAST PRESIDENT: ●Bob Buhl

Allstate Insurance -- Bob Buhl

BOARD MEMBERS: ●Kelly Copp

Olympic College ●John Eaton

Dirt Cheap Cycle ●Lisa Woodard

West Coast Bank ●Mike Byrne

City of Shelton Commissioner ●Michelle Corral

Heritage Bank ●Kevin Cronquist

Prudential N.W. Real Estate ●Kathryn Kamin

Hood Canal Communications ●Patti Case

Green Diamond Resource Co. ●Lynda Ring-Erickson

M. C. County Commissioner ●Dan Mancuso

Shelton-Mason County Journal

Executive Director’s Report

A question I’ve enjoyed answering in the last few weeks is why do I want to be the Chamber Director. The short answer—there is no other organization better positioned to lead Shelton and Mason County toward a strong, sustainable future and I want to be a part of that effort.

I appreciate Mason County as it is but I share with many a strong vision of what I know it can become. Our strategic location between two employment centers, growing local markets and proximity to larger markets, natural beauty and bountiful amenities all influenced by continued innovations in technology and transportation will bring positive growth to our economic and demo-graphic base. I believe we are on the cusp of a great transition and your Chamber can and should shape how we change.

The reason I know my hopes for our future are possible is because I have seen how the can-do attitude of this community can accomplish great things. You wanted a college, so you built one. You wanted a beautiful downtown park, first rate baseball and soccer fields so you built those too. Tolly needed TLC and you came out and gave her the attention she needed. Youth centers, horse camps, civic centers and clock towers all built with your hands, donations and votes.

Who better than the Chamber to lead the way to this strong future? It is the business community, gifted with an irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit, who makes the vital investments that builds economic strength. A strong economy is the necessary base for building great communities with beautiful public spaces for civic engagement, quality public infrastructure that protects natural resources while gracefully accom-modating growth and a first class education system.

The Chamber is expanding its base and sphere of influence. We have launched our newest membership level, “Friend of the Chamber” open to citizens who are inter-ested in using their skills, knowledge and experience in partnership with us as we lead Shelton and Mason County into the future. In this edition is a Friend of the Chamber membership application. I encourage you to share this opportunity with people you know share your passion for building a better Chamber of Commerce and a better Mason County.

August 1 Shelton Art Festival 9-4 on Railroad

between 2nd and 4th

August 4 Outdoor Music at the Library

August 6 Music in the Park Little Green Men

August 9 Mason Transit Community Center

Pie Social 12-4 @ Armory

August 11 Outdoor Music at the Library

August 12 Chamber After Hours@ Walter

Dacon Winery

August 13 Music in the Park

Reincarnation of Rock & Roll

August 15 SummerFest @ Harmony Hill

August 16 SummerFest Brunch 10-12

@ Harmony Hill

August 16 “Above the Par” Golf Tournament Benefit for Shelton School District

@Alderbrook Golf Club 1-7 PM

August 19 Chamber Dinner

@ Hoodsport Fire Hall

August 20 Music in the Park

Randy Baugh Band

August 25 Outdoor Music at the Library

August 27 Music in the Park

Swing Fever

Directories, Maps Now Available

2009 Chamber Auction

September 19th 2009

The Pavilion at Sentry Park

Celebrate Carnavale!

Call Now to Purchase Your Tickets

Chamber Office: 426-2021

The NEW 2009-2010 Mason County maps and business directories have arrived! Please come by the office and pick up your copies. Many members like to keep extra on hand for their customers and clients’ use. They are also available at the Hoodsport visitors center and the Caboose.

Our faithful train engine Tollie is once again complete. Updated with new logs and metal chassis, Tollie has been retrofitted to make her both safer and even more aesthetically pleasing. We at the Chamber are especially grateful to all the community members and businesses who donated their time and ef-fort and made viewing her from our office a pleasure.

We would like to extend our deepest grati-tude to all who worked on the train car: Jim Hunter - Hunter Construction , Craig Louderback and Jeremy Nylander —Bradley Louderback Con-struction, Rocky Nutt, Ty Nutt and Roberto Martinez– Nutt Construction and Salvage, Mike Longan, Mike Gill, Glen Haugian and Duane Wilson – ProBuild and Kristmas Town Kiwanis, Art Tozier – Tozier’s Ace Hardware

Special thanks go to Green Diamond Re-source Company for donating new logs and Manke Lumber Company Inc. for delivering the logs.

Tollie Thanks You

Our new Chamber Exec, Terri Jeffreys, is hired and off to a “running start”. Terri brings a lot of experience with fresh ideas for the Chamber, as well as her own personal goals for our Chamber and community. Judging from the number of visitors she has already received, I’m certain she has received plenty of suggestions for the Chamber. Terri and I are finding my knowledge of the undocumented Chamber protocol is lim-ited. So along with her learning process she will be docu-menting “the rules/ protocol” of office operations and pro-gram guidelines for clarification, then approval of the Board. Great start Terri!

Meanwhile the business of the Chamber and the Community continue. Several summer events and projects including July 4th Celebrations, Allyn Days, and Mason County Fair (complete with Made in Mason County display) have been completed. We’re half way through Music in the Park with great attendance at each performance. The flower baskets are beautiful, still in need of donations to ensure we keep them hanging through the sum-mer, we are closer but not quite there yet. The Taste of Hood Canal (Belfair in August), the Chamber Auction in September and October’s Oysterfest events close behind. Mark your calendars for these events, and if you would like to get involved we have plenty of opportunities for volunteers. Call me (426-1030) or the Chamber (426-2021) if you want to learn more about getting involved.

In addition to supporting the events over the year there are new efforts by the Chamber Board to launch Marketing and Membership projects. The most recent effort by the Mar-keting Committee was the Made in Mason County kick off at the fair. The idea while it was met with positive response will need some polishing to perfect it. The Membership committee is preparing to launch their new campaign soon. Stay tuned! AND REMEM-BER YOU TOO CAN BE A PART OF IT. GET INVOLVED IN YOUR CHAMBER TODAY.

Is your marketing program in need of a make-over? Washington businesses can enter to win the Extreme Marketing Makeover – Small Business Edition and get a $25,000 market-ing makeover. The promoters believe “in this world full of corporate bailouts, AIG, Fanny Mae, stock market crashes and other depressing news, we felt it was time for some fun.” “We think every single company should have a detailed written marketing plan, strategy, and list of tactics for generating leads. That's why some local marketing professionals got together and came up with this contest. We want to expose to small and medium sized com-panies the power of proper marketing.”

Judges will be looking for that one small company that has a viable product, has shown tenacity to succeed, a winning attitude, and gives back to the community. Businesses can find out more and enter online at www.marketingsbe.com. You must be entered by August 31. Winners will be announced in September.

Made In Mason County 2009 Debut

August Chamber Dinner

Energy Efficiency and Your Bottom Line

Saving energy with PUD #3’s conservation programs is an easy way to help your bottom line. Come learn how you can save.

Sponsored by Dinner Served by

August 19th 6 P.M. Hoodsport Fire Hall

$20 per person

Positive Changes to SBA Loan Programs

Small businesses seeking to expand may be able to refinance existing loans used to purchase real estate and other fixed assets through the Small Business Administration’s 504 loan program. Permanent changes to the SBA 504 loan program now allow viable businesses to restructure eligible debt at lower interest rates. These changes were part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress in February.

Other features of the Recovery Act include the new SBA America Recovery Capital Loan which provides up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship and temporary waiver on borrower fees on the 7(a) loans, the SBA’s largest loan program. Loan guarantee levels are increased to 90 percent of the loan to help provide lenders greater confidence. For more information go to www.sba.gov/recovery.

The 2009 Mason County Fair and Rodeo continued to offer that time honored stage for county citizens, businesses and community organizations to showcase themselves, their talents and their County pride.

The Chamber seized that opportunity this year to showcase products Made in Mason County. The Chambers’ Made in Mason County booth displayed just some of the many products that give all of us some hometown pride.

In a few short weeks the Marketing Committee assembled what is hoped to evolve into a repeatable exhibit. Thank you to participants of this first effort; Walter Dacon Winery, Hiawatha Evergreens, Taylor Shellfish, Lynch Creek Floral, Frazer Metalworks, Squaxin Island Museum, Northwest Tribal Tourism, Hood Canal Communications, Active Underground and all the members who staffed the booth. A special thanks to the Little Creek Resort and Casino for donating a Spa and Dinner package prize.

Consortium Awarding Extreme Marketing Makeover

Following legislation passed by the 2009 Legislature all monthly filers must file and pay their excise taxes electronically beginning with the July 2009 return due on August 25. Businesses with extenuating cir-cumstances may request a waiver. Over 100,000 businesses already file electronically but the Legisla-ture would like to increase that number to help cut costs and reduce the amount of paper used by state agencies. More information is available on the De-partment of Revenue website, www.dor.wa.gov.

Monthly Excise Tax Filers Required to File Electronically

Catch the Chamber Business Buzz

Mondays at 8:15 on

August Buzz Sponsored by:

President’s Message

August After Hours

Good Wine, Good Food, Great Company

An Ideal Summer Evening

Sponsored BY:

August Networking Events

West Coast Bank delivers personalized service and local decision-making to respond quickly to your needs.

Held at:

Appetizers by:

August 12 5:30 P.M.

Walter Dacon Winery, SE 50 Skookum Inlet

RSVP NOW! 426-2021; info@sheltonchamber.org

Action Pest Control 1001 Cooper Pt Rd SW Olympia WA 98502 (360) 427-2411 Pest Control and Removal

The Log Cabin 1749 Olympic Hwy S Shelton Wa 98584 (360) 868-2823 Restaurant and Bar

Governmental Affairs Committee Update

Bob Buhl

LOOMIS Legal Nurse Consultants 301 E. Wallace Kneeland Blvd.

(360) 432-3087 Legal Consultants

Chamber Seeks Flexibility in Sewer Moratorium

One of the main functions of a successful Chamber of Commerce is to be the voice of business when dealing with governmental agencies. To that end, the Government Affairs Committee was established several years ago and continues to serve our mem-bership well. Most recently, the GAC has been instrumental in providing recommendations to the Board of Directors for public comment regarding the City of Shelton Moratorium on Develop-ment and the UGA Interlocal Agreement.

I am pleased to report we have been successful in getting our message across resulting in favorable responses and subsequent consideration of our concerns and recommendations from both the City and County. The opportunity currently exists for our membership individually and collectively to provide testimony and additional recommendations both to the City and County, and I encourage you to do so.

Public Works Director Steve Goins gave us the straight scoop on the Moratorium. The upshot is that things may not be as bleak as first feared. We discussed some possible opportunities that may exist for businesses to relocate and/or expand during this time. Our suggestions were met with a positive, “Let’s see where we can find some common ground” attitude. These include pos-sible plat approval extensions, restoration of vacant buildings and flexibility in the transfer of ERU’s. We are still working on formal recommendations for the Interlocal Agreement between the City and County guiding development regulations in the un-incorporated areas of the Shelton urban growth area which will be the focus of our next meeting, Wednesday August 5 at Vern’s Restaurant. All members are welcome to attend GAC meetings but rsvp’s to me by the Monday prior are required if you wish to eat lunch.

The GAC is the only committee whose members must submit a written application and be appointed for one year terms by the Board of Directors. Our committee is currently full, but we wel-come constructive input from all members via a request for ac-tion form available at the Chamber office.

2nd St. Design Studio 94.5 Roxy - KRXY A Lighthouse on Hammersley Adair Homes Alderbrook Golf Course & Yacht Club Alderbrook Resort & Spa Alpine Way Retirement Apts. All About Parties Allstate Insurance** American Family Insurance Anchor Bank Arnold & Smith Insurance Agency, Inc.** ArtTalks Custom Frame Shop Auseth Construction Inc. Bayshore Golf Course Behavioral Health Resource Bill Schultz Insurance Services Bob Kimbel, Inc. Brothers United Inc. Cady Tree Farm, LLC Career Quest Cascade Natural Gas Corp. Cassel Express Investments Catholic Community Services Cedar Bay Culinary Chamberland Construction, LLC Christmas Village Coffee News Thurston Mason Community Financial Center Cooper Studios Curt Creswell / Prudential NW Real Estate EZ-Pull Products Dairy Queen David & Roslynne Reed David Mackey Residential Design Doyle Custom Homes Economic Development Council Edward Jones of Armin Baumgartel Empire Office Equipment, Inc. Evergreen Rural Water of Washington Exceptional Foresters, Inc. Extreme Auto Body** First American Title Insurance Co. Foster & Williams Architects G & S Janitorial Services Gardner Accounting** Gillis Auto Sales Godfather's Pizza Graphic Communication Digital Printing Green Diamond Resource Company** H Q Electronics & Satellite** H.U.B. International, Inc. Haigh Veterinary Hospital Harmony Hill Retreat Center Heritage Bank**

Hiawatha Corp. Hood Canal Adventures Hood Canal Business Association Hood Canal Communications Hoss & Wilson-Hoss, LLP** Jarrell's Cove Marina Jim Davenport Consulting, LLC John L. Scott Real Estate Kapowsin Air Sports KMAS Radio KPS Health Plans Kristmas Town Kiwanis Lake Cushman Resort Lake Limerick Country Club Land Title Co. of Mason County Laurie's Hoodsport Gift & Liquor Little Skookum Shellfish Growers Loans 4 You Makinpicz Manke Lumber Co., Inc. Maple Glen Assisted Living Mariano's Fine Jewelry & Design** Mason County Association of Realtors* Mason County Eye Clinic Mason County Historical Museum Mason County P.U.D. #1 Mason County P.U.D. #3 Mason County Republicans Mason County Senior Activities Assoc. Mason County Sportsmans Association Mason County Title Company Mason Fire District 4 Mason General Hospital Mason General Hospital Foundation MC Transportation Authority McCarty & Associates, Inc.* McComb Funeral Home Mell Chevrolet Co. Mike's Beach Resort Mountain View Surgical Services New Community Church of Union North Mason Chamber Olsen Furniture Company Olympia Sheet Metal Inc. Olympic Mountain Millwork* Our Community Credit Union Pacific Northwest Properties Painted Bird Pottery & Design Studio Pannell, Dawn Pantorium Cleaners Pascher Construction Inc. Peninsula Credit Union Perfect Reflections Autobody Port of Shelton**

ProBuild Quality Appliance, Inc. RE/MAX Top Executives Richard Beckman Realty Group, LLC. Richard C. Downing DDS** Robert W. Johnson, PLLC Richard D. Thornbrue, CPA Roof Doctor, Inc. Roosters Sam Sevier, LLC* Seattle Shellfish LLC Senior Services for South Sound Sentry Mini Storge ServiceMaster Servpro of Mason County Shaub-Ellison Co., Inc. Shelton-Mason County Journal Shelton Athletic Club Shelton Chiropractic Shelton Health & Rehabilitation Center Shelton Kiwanis Club Shelton Orthopedics Shelton Physical Therapy Shelton Veterinary Hospital, Inc ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia Simpson Lumber Company Smith, Jim & Sally SoundPLAN InternationalLLC Spencer Lake Bar & Grill Squaxin Island Tribe Tourism Dept.** Steph's Espresso* Steven H. Bowers DDS, PS Sundance Landscape and Golf Sunset Air Super 8 Motel Taylor Shellfish Farms Thacher, Dave The Log Cabin The Optical Shop of WA., Inc. The Pavilion At Sentry Park Tupper's Floorcoverings & Interiors** United Way Of Mason County Valpak of South Puget Sound Vander Wal's Garage, Inc. Vander Wegen & Associates, Inc Walter Dacon Wines Washington Timberland Management.Inc Watson Construction Co Inc West Coast Bank (Hoodsport) West Coast Bank (Shelton)** William J. Busacca DDS PS Windermere Real Estate** WorkSource Mason County Xinh's Clam & Oyster House

Thank You to These Members who Have Continued their

Membership Investment

Green Diamond, Continued from pg 1

cool, clean water. A television commercial running currently show-cases Washington State’s timber industry and its contributions to habitat protection as well as to the economy. It was photographed on Green Diamond land here in Mason County. Log on to forestsand-fish.com to check it out.

Most of the timber harvested by Green Diamond is used to make lumber for houses. That market is suffering from an all-time low, and mills throughout the US are struggling with many permanent closures and nearly universal production cuts. The business outlook is not expected to improve until the second half of 2010. That said, the lumber industry has always been cyclical. Green Diamond’s lead-ers are determined as ever to focus on the long term and position the company to outperform the competition.

One of the hottest public policy debates on the radar screen is climate change. Whether or not one believes it is real, opinion leaders seem to agree that it is a major threat and that something needs to be done about it. Forests are the answer as they sequester carbon both in living trees and in wood products. The use of woody biomass for fuel is carbon neutral, providing a ready source of green energy. Green Diamond and other forest products companies have taken an active role in convincing lawmakers that working forests are the original green industry, and that ensuring forests and forest products are treated favorably in climate change legislation is one way to keep the industry on the landscape.

Wing Takes Helm of NW Division

Earlier this year Paul Wing was appointed to vice president and general manager, Northwest Timberlands Division, at Green Diamond Resource Company. Wing has overall re-sponsibility for all activities on the company’s forest land base in Washington State. A resident of Mason County, Wing has

worked for Green Diamond and its predecessor, Simpson Timber Company, since being hired as a summer forestry assistant in 1974. He was promoted to vice president and general manager from forestry operations manager, where he was responsible for reforestation and intensive forest management activities as well as harvest planning and road construction. Prior to that, Wing was responsible for forest land purchases, sales and other adjust-ments.

A 1978 graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry Management, he also holds a Master’s degree in business from the University of Puget Sound.

As a forestry leader recently pointed out, “If you found an in-dustry that, by its very nature, protected fish, wildlife and clean water; produced oxygen and sequestered carbon; provided thousands of square miles of open space and countless opportu-nities for recreation, wouldn’t you want to recruit it to Wash-ington State? Guess what – we’re already here.”

Don’t Forget to Renew! ** Platinum Member

* Gold Member